Baelon King of all Dragons

Chapter 33

Time lapse (two years since Baelon and Rhaenyra got to Dragonstone together)

Baelon Targaryen had always been a man of vision. Since his return from Valyria, he had set his sights on more than just the ancient seats of Dragonstone and Harrenhal; he wanted to shape the future of the realm through the creation of something enduring, something that would stand as a testament to the strength and ingenuity of House Targaryen.

And so, he threw himself into the development of both Dragonstone and Harrenhal with a fervor that left no stone unturned.

Dragonstone, with its forbidding volcanic landscape and ancient, dragon-carved architecture, was a place of both beauty and harshness.

Yet Baelon saw potential in its rugged terrain and the people who lived there. Over time, the once sparsely populated island began to transform under his careful guidance.

Baelon employed builders, craftsmen, and laborers from across Westeros to work on various projects, including the expansion of the existing port and the construction of new shipyards.

He knew that Dragonstone's strategic location in the Blackwater Bay made it a vital naval hub, and he was determined to capitalize on that advantage.

One of Baelon's first orders of business was to develop a small town near the castle. He set a population cap of 20,000 to prevent overcrowding, understanding the island's limited resources and space. The town was not designed to be a bustling center of commerce like King's Landing or Oldtown.

Instead, it was built to support the burgeoning carpenter and shipwright industries that Baelon was keen to develop.

The town itself was planned meticulously. Baelon's architects, instructed to maintain the aesthetic of Dragonstone's severe, ancient beauty, drew up blueprints for homes and public buildings that echoed the dragon-carved structures of the castle above.

The town grew slowly, but it grew with purpose, each building a testament to Baelon's vision for an island that would be as productive as it was formidable.

Baelon also took great care in ensuring that the town on Dragonstone did not fall into the traps that plagued so many other cities.

He was determined to prevent the squalor and filth that often accompanied rapid urban expansion.

With this in mind, he ordered the construction of a comprehensive sewer system—a feat of engineering that many of the builders initially found daunting.

However, Baelon was not a man to accept excuses. The system was built, ensuring that waste was properly disposed of, preventing the spread of disease, and keeping the town clean and habitable.

On the other side of Westeros, Harrenhal, a castle steeped in tragedy and cursed by dragonfire, was undergoing an even more dramatic transformation.

Baelon had grand plans for the ancient seat, which had long been shunned by the nobility due to its dark history. Before going to Valyria, he had begun the slow process of tearing down the castle's blackened, crumbling towers, to eventually build it anew. This new Harrenhal would be a marvel of Valyrian architecture, built from black fused stone, just as the ancient fortresses of Valyria had been.

But Baelon's ambitions did not end with the castle itself.

He envisioned Harrenhal as the centerpiece of a thriving new city, a beacon of Targaryen power and innovation.

To achieve this, he knew he needed not just materials and workers, but people—inhabitants who would breathe life into the barren lands surrounding the castle.

The first step in realizing this vision was the construction of a massive underground dragonpit near the Gods Eye, a vast lake that shimmered like glass in the sunlight.

This dragonpit was no ordinary stable for dragons; it was a sprawling cavern, designed to house up to five dragons as large as Arrlithox, a beast that had already surpassed even Vhagar in size.

The pit and Harrenhal itself were massive undertakings, requiring immense resources and labor. Caravans of stone, wood, and other materials began to arrive at Harrenhal from all corners of Westeros, including the North, the Vale, the Reach, and the Westerlands.

Baelon oversaw these operations with a careful eye, ensuring that every block of stone and plank of wood was of the highest quality.

The Gods Eye, with its connection to the Trident, allowed ships to bring in goods from the open sea, making Harrenhal a hub of activity.

The small village that had once clung to the castle's shadow began to swell with new inhabitants—builders, craftsmen, merchants, and their families—all drawn by the promise of work and a new life.

Baelon understood that to turn this burgeoning settlement into a true city, he needed to do more than just provide jobs. He needed to give the people a reason to stay, to build their lives around Harrenhal.

To that end, Baelon took an unprecedented step: he bought 10,000 slaves from Essos, freed them, and then offered them paid work on the construction of Harrenhal and the growing town.

It was a bold move, one that many lords would have balked at, but Baelon was not concerned with the opinions of lesser men.

He saw an opportunity to create a loyal, skilled workforce that would be forever indebted to House Targaryen. The freedmen, grateful for their new lives, threw themselves into their work with fervor, helping to build not just a castle, but a city.

As the town grew, Baelon was careful to avoid the mistakes that had plagued so many other cities in Westeros, as he had done on Dragonstone.

He knew that unchecked expansion would lead to chaos and squalor, so he commissioned architects to design a plan for the city that could be extended as needed.

The layout was simple but effective, with clear districts for commerce, housing, and entertainment. The commercial district was placed near the Gods Eye, allowing easy access to the harbor and the ships that would bring goods and wealth to Harrenhal.

The housing sector was on the opposite side of the city, away from the noise and bustle of trade, ensuring that the inhabitants had a peaceful place to live.

Baelon also paid particular attention to public health.

He ordered the construction of bathhouses throughout the city, ensuring that the inhabitants had access to clean water and a place to wash. He knew that cleanliness was key to preventing the spread of disease, and he wanted his new city to be a place of health and vitality, not a breeding ground for plague.

To further this goal, Baelon imposed strict building regulations. No small wooden shacks were allowed to be built; the city would be uniform in its construction, with every building contributing to the overall aesthetic of strength and durability that Baelon envisioned.

Despite the rapid growth of the town, Baelon knew that it was not yet a place that required a large garrison.

For now, he stationed 300 of his soldiers from Dragonstone in the city to maintain order and keep the peace. These men were not just guards; they were symbols of Targaryen authority, a reminder that this new city, like the castle that would overshadow it, belonged to House Targaryen.

As Baelon watched his plans come to life, he could not help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction.

Dragonstone was becoming a thriving hub of industry, and Harrenhal was on its way to becoming the heart of a new city, one that would stand as a testament to the power and vision of House Targaryen. The future was uncertain, but with each new building that rose from the ground, each stone laid in place, Baelon knew that he was shaping that future with his own hands.

Rhaenyra, who had accompanied him on many of these journeys, often marveled at the changes her brother was bringing about.

"You're building more than just castles, Baelon," she told him one day as they stood on the walls of Harrenhal, looking out over the growing town below.

"You're building a legacy."

Baelon smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"A legacy for both of us, Rhaenyra. For House Targaryen. This is only the beginning."